Top Story: Online business to be regulated effective July 1, says Ismail SabriEffective July 1, all businesses and services conducted online will have to abide by the Consumer Protection (Electronic Trade Transactions) Regulations 2012 to protect the interest of consumers. Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the regulations were important as 1.1m people in the country carried out transactions online with business worth RM1.8b in 2010 and the figure was expected to increase to RM5b by 2014. The regulations were applicable to persons supplying goods and services through websites or online marketplace including social media such as Facebook. The text of the Regulation is available here.

Top Story: NSW to be operational in AugustThe National Single Window (NSW) is expected to be fully operational in August this year, the assistant controller of the Royal Customs and Excise Department said yesterday. Through the NSW, traders electronically submit forms for export, import, and transit procedures only once, and they are processed and cleared by multiple government agencies in a single integrated process. Some components of the NSW have been made available online for viewing and registration purposes, said Hj Yassin Hj Ibrahim, the department's assistant controller.

Top Story: Fake drugs a growing problem in M'sia, says EMHN studyA newly released study by an independent think tank that looks into the problem of fake medicine in Asia, has revealed that 5% of the medicines in Malaysia are counterfeit. Though the study by Emerging Markets Health Network (EMHN) showed that Malaysia's fake medicine prevalence was low when compared to its Asean neighbours, it is a growing problem that must be tackled earnestly. The paper also revealed that the quality of the traditional medicine being sold in the country is suspect, as some have been found to contain poison.

Top Story: Global insurance CEOs plan to increase investment in AsiaAsia continues to emerge as a strong focus for business expansion, with more than 80% of global industry CEOs targeting for growth in all parts of the region except Central Asia, say the findings of a recent PwC survey of 92 insurance CEOs across 39 countries. "With growth slowing in mature markets, many CEOs see greater potential in the still largely underpenetrated emerging markets," says the report. Shifting underwriting resources to manage the less familiar and rapidly evolving growth markets is one of the strategic goals identified by the industry leaders.

LOOKING AHEAD:The US-ASEAN Business Council's 2013 Vietnam Business Mission is scheduled for March 13-15. For more information, please contact Carr Slayton at cslayton@usasean.org IN THIS UPDATE:Defense & Security+ Top U.S. Marine wants back in Vietnam

IN THIS UPDATE:Regional Spotlight+The Challenge of Chinese Revisionism: The Expanding Role of China's Non-Military Maritime Vessels+Southeast Asian countries stock up on arms as they face off with China+China's Provocative Blunder in the Pacific